This weekend the Cup series heads to Pocono for two races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. NASCAR also has its two other main series racing with the trucks on Saturday and the Xfinity series on Sunday. Pocono is a unique track in which it only has 3 turns. After last weekend where we saw a ton of runs and passes we have Pocono where track position is key and passing is limited. Strategy for this track is typically 2 dominators mixed in with place differential. There are some really good place differential options for Saturday’s race. Once Saturday’s Cup race runs they will invert the top 20 and anyone who finishes 21st on back will start in that position for Sunday’s race so make sure to come back Saturday night/Sunday morning for that write up.
Kevin Harvick (DK $10,100 FD $14,000)
Harvick holds the second best driver rating looking at recent races here. He is second only to Kyle Busch. On a normal race weekend, I would probably be writing Kyle up in this spot. However, his struggles this year, especially starting races after the lay off really concern me. Harvick on the other hand has unloaded fast all season. Harvick has led multiple laps in three of the last four races here. He also has seven top ten finishes over the last eight races here.
Clint Bowyer (DK $9,500 FD $9,400)
There aren’t many weeks I get to write up Bowyer and I try to keep my personal bias out of it(He’s my favorite driver) however I think Bowyer is a great play on both sites this week in all formats. Bowyer starts 18th on Saturday and has four top 11 finishes in the last five races here. Bowyer has show speed coming off the lay off which is another factor I have used in my lineup construction with the one day shows. He is one of the great place differential options I love this weekend.
Ryan Blaney (DK $9,000 FD $11,800)
Speaking of cars that have been fast since coming back. Blaney has been very impressive since the return from quarantine. He is coming off a win at Dega and finishes of 3rd, 2nd, and 4th and has led at least 30 laps in four of the last five races this season. As for Pocono,he has had about a top 10 car in his Cup career. He starts 2nd on Saturday and has shown the ability to start off strong and could contend with Almirola to lead early laps here.
Denny Hamlin (DK $8,800 FD $13,000)
Denny has been right there with his teammate in recent dominant history here at Pocono. Unlike his teammate, Denny has shown the ability to dominate races this season with three wins already. Toyotas have shown their dominance here as well. Denny has the third best driver rating here in recent years and won here in July last year leading 32 laps.
William Byron (DK $8,400 FD $10,400)
Byron is coming to a track where he has shown some great promise. In his four career Cup starts here, he has finishes of 4th, 9th, 6th and 18th. He has also led laps in two of those four races. Chevy’s have shown a lot of speed this season and Byron has been one of those fast Chevy’s in multiple races. He also starts 16th and has top 10 upside. Another mid range good place differential car.
Erik Jones (DK $7,100 FD $10,000)
If Erik isn’t one of the highest owned drivers on Saturday then I am going to have myself a great day because I am going to be overweight in my exposure to him. For however many weeks its been now he is grossly underpriced. This is arguably one of Erik’s better tracks. In six career races here, he has four top 5’s and an 8th place finish. He has led laps here in four of those races as well. Erik starts 19th so he has great place differential as well. Just like Bowyer, I think Erik is a great play on both sites in all formats.
Any questions message me on twitter @davidjr831 and to get access to final thoughts for all the races (trucks, Xfinitiy and Cup) cores and prop plays, subscribe to the NASCAR package below.
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